Kain Colter practices, clarifies injury, vows to play vs. Vandy

Kain Colter practiced with first-team offense Tuesday and said he expects to play against Vanderbilt in Northwestern’s home opener on Saturday night despite suffering from an injury that was originally reported as a bruised left shoulder but that he said was actually bruised left ribs.“It’s a painful injury,” Colter said. “There’s nothing you can really do about it but rest. We’ve got a while before the game. I’m just trying to ease back into things. I’ll be ready to go by Saturday.”Colter said several hits he absorbed during the game contributed to the rib injury, although a sack by Shamarko Thomas which forced him to fumble late in the second quarter was the decisive blow.The junior didn’t get much sympathy from coach Pat Fitzgerald, who said quarterbacks were responsible for three of five Syracuse sacks in Northwestern’s 42-41 victory in the Carrier Dome on Saturday.“We gave up five sacks,” Fitzgerald said. “Three were on the quarterback. That’s their fault. They get what they deserve. That’s what I told them [Monday] in a team meeting. You get what you deserve, Either turn the protection like the game plan calls [for] or get the ball out of your hands or you’re going to be sore on Monday. Either you figure it out or you’re going to sore.”Cain told offensive coordinator Mick McCall that backup Trevor Siemian should lead the Wildcats on a potential game-winning drive late in the game because he couldn’t throw without pain. Siemian did just that, connecting Demetrius Fields on a 9-yard touchdown with 44 seconds left that gave Northwestern the road win.It’s tough,” Colter said. “You want to be in the game but at the same time if I go out there and it’s painful to throw the ball and we’re in the two-minute drill where we have to throw the ball I’m not going to hurt my team and go out there if I’m not 100 percent. I’ve got all the trust in the world in Trevor. If I feel Trevor gives us the best chance to win at that point, I have to make that decision.”